Above on the plain they would receive the full sweep of the wind, which was still bitterly cold.
He was worn by the continued buffetings of blast and snow, but he did not dare to lie down, even in the blankets, lest he never wake again, and while he considered he saw darker shadows in the darkness above him.
He gazed, all attention, and counted ten shadows, following one another, a dusky file.

He knew by the set of their figures, short and stocky, that they were Mexicans, and his heart beat heavily.

These were the first Mexicans that any one had seen on Texan soil since the departure of Cos and his army on parole from captured San Antonio.

So the Mexicans had come back, and no doubt they would return in great force! Ned crouched lower, and he was very glad that the nose of the horse was still under his arm.

He would not have a chance to whinny to his kind that bore the Mexicans.